Recent EMC experience

Induction cooktop

by atiras - 2023-08-17 04:25:08

I've used one regularly for 5 years without a problem. I checked with my cardiologist before I had it installed and he said (I quote): You'll only have a problem if you're lying face down on it while it's on.  And if you're doing that, you have problems more major than what it will do to your device.

Induction cooktop

by Gordons - 2023-08-17 04:29:12

Thanks for the feedback...and the humour!

cooktop

by new to pace.... - 2023-08-17 06:31:06

would help if you would fill in your bio at least with make, model and the location where you live.  As sometimes the answers are different for each model or location where you live.

new to pace

EMC

by piglet22 - 2023-08-17 07:24:57

Start by assuming that the manufacturer has already thought that one through.

What you need from the manufacturer is a definitive list of what to avoid. It could be long, but for most daily living, away from industrial processes, pretty much everything will be safe.

Obvious things are strong magnetic fields, especially with rare earth magnets which are being used a lot more, and sources of powerful EMR.

The best solution is to ask your medic, or better still, see what the manufacturer of your device has to offer..

EMC experiences

by Beni - 2023-08-17 07:37:53

I contact the manufacturer of my device whenever I have questions about using certain equipment - be they ICE or electric - as recommended by my EP.  The manufacturers have customer service departments with substantial data bases at their disposal for this very purpose.

I don't bother with the manufacturers of the equipment I wish to use.  I have contacted one or two of them in the past and they won't commit to anything.  I suspect this is for, as others have pointed out,  liability reasons.

I have an Abbott device and if I email their customer department,  I will receive a reply a couple of hours later from  their technical support section. 

One of the problems with advice from folks on this site is that it can be very different from person to person.  For example, one person may say they can't use a riding lawnmower while others  report having no problems.  So, to be on the safe side, I simply contacted Abbott.  (FYI, using a riding lawnmower is fine as long as the engine is 12 inches from your device.  So, do not bend over the engine while it is running.)

Link to this

by Lavender - 2023-08-17 09:51:42

Copy and paste this indepth article on this subject from the American Heart Assoc:

https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/arrhythmia/prevention--treatment-of-arrhythmia/devices-that-may-interfere-with-icds-and-pacemakers

Induction hobs, noise cancelling headphones, chainsaws.

by Selwyn - 2023-08-17 12:11:18

Induction Hob- I was advised to leave a clearance of 2 feet from hob to pacemaker. In effect, unless you are laying on the hob you cook a hot pan at least 2 feet away from your upper chest.

I use noise cancelling headphones - they are too weak to have any effect.

I use an electric chain saw - I do try to keep this away from my chest for safety reasons. Never had a problem. 

I think most things are safe unless you are near high voltage electricity ( some electric car chargers have a warning). Never personally had a problem .

Petrol Chainsaw

by Shaun - 2023-08-17 12:23:53

I use a petrol hedge cutter and chainsaw at least twice a year and never had a problem even though on occasions the engine passes very close to the pacemaker.

Recent EMC experience

by Gordons - 2023-08-17 22:57:04

Thanks all for your feedback...great support

A couple of comments:

I did contact Medtronics before I made the post. Frankly, the Australian support line was hopeless. The woman had no knowledge other than looking up the info I already had.

Thanks for the US heart foundation list. Very comprehensive.

I agree that different cardio's give different advice but when I look at the actual experiences listed, they are all much more positive (and liberating) than the cautious advice normally given

Finally... I had put the info into my bio but (user error!) it had not updated. Now done.

Thanks again

Gordon

Recent EMC experience

by Gordons - 2023-08-28 03:38:32

Help!

After my last post, someone took the time (27th August) and effort to write a lengthy and considered response which referred to many things and in particular the anxiety associated with being a 'newbie'.

I wanted to digest the thoughts and then respond properly.

Now the message has disappeared from my feed. (I am pretty sure I didn't do anything!)

If you posted it could you pelase re-post so that I can properly acknowledge and respond.

Thanks

Gordon

Gordon

by Gemita - 2023-08-28 04:42:42

I am a moderator on this site.  I have just picked up your remarks about a missing comment posted yesterday on your thread.  I am sure it was nothing you did, since any member is able to remove their own comments on other members' threads or even to remove their own posts at any time.  I know of one member in particular who does this routinely and I find it very upsetting, unhelpful and disrepectful. 

Yesterday, 27th August, I noticed one member had deleted a number of her comments from several members' threads.   Perhaps your thread was among them?   She has been doing this for years and I have already spoken to her about this, but still it continues.  I am not sure what the answer is.  Fortunately the majority of members do not do delete their own work.

We have many posts on the anxiety of being a "newbie" and if you want to make a separate post on this, feel free to do so at any time and we can all make up for the missing comment!   In the meantime, hope you are doing okay?  By the way I also have a two wire (dual chamber) Medtronic pacemaker.  It was implanted in 2018 and very little affects it, apart from loud vibratory music.  Made the mistake of going to a carnival (Nottinghill Carnival, UK) some years ago and experienced some pretty awful arrhythmias

Gemita

by Gordons - 2023-08-28 23:21:16

Hi Gemita,

Thanks for your message and fedback.

Like you, I find it strange that people would take posts down. The information has to be useful to new people coming on board. If it changes then post an update with more current views.

Yes, being a 'newbie' carries anxieties...particularly as it all appeared to me to happen quickly. I went from a single incident of fainting to an installation within 3 weeks. I have had a bit of processing and reserach to do.

The good news is that first cardio check was today and no I hadn't pulled the leads out (real concern for me) and everything is working well. I should start to feel less anxious now that I know things are 'normal'.

Off overseas tomorrow so welcome to the joys of airport security...not a problem by all accounts.

Gordon